Lake Powell ferry unlikely to run in 2026 amid low water levels

Travelers who count on the Charles Hall Ferry to stitch together Bullfrog and Hall’s Crossing need a new plan for 2026. Utah Department of Transportation says the Lake Powell crossing is not anticipated to operate because of continued low water levels, leaving State Route 276 without its usual water bridge and forcing a road reroute instead.

That matters most for boaters shuttling between marinas, road-trippers linking the north and south sides of Lake Powell, cyclists trying to keep an itinerary tight, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area visitors who built a trip around the ferry’s short hop across the lake. The crossing itself is only about 4 miles and takes roughly 25 minutes on the water, but the backup is much bigger: the drive by State Route 95 between the ferry docks is about 149 miles. What looks like a quick link on the map can become a long detour if you assume the ferry will be there when you arrive.

UDOT says the ferry crosses between Bullfrog and Hall’s Crossing and runs first-come, first-served, with no reservations. Gate entrance fees are not required if you are entering only to ride the ferry. Current ramp guidance points Bullfrog users to the public North Launch Ramp and Hall’s Crossing users to the public ramp past the RV campground. The crossing is listed for Thursday through Sunday with hourly departures, but the service is tied to lake elevation and can change whenever conditions do. A Utah Legislative session document says the ferry uses UDOT’s dedicated ramps at 3,585 feet and above, shifts to public ramps from 3,565 to 3,585 feet, and shuts down below 3,565 feet.

The low-water pattern is not new. The ferry returned to service on July 4, 2024 after being out of operation for three years because low lake levels had made it inoperable, and that summer it was scheduled for four round-trips daily with departures every two hours starting at 10 a.m. In May 2026, Bullfrog Marina was already being moved to deeper water because Lake Powell had dropped to the lowest reaches of Bullfrog’s only open boat ramp.

For anyone planning a Lake Powell loop, the safest assumption is simple: do not build the trip around a ferry that is not expected to run. The shortcut between Bullfrog and Hall’s Crossing has become a warning sign for how much low water is still reshaping access across southern Utah.